separated by a common language."
— Attributed to George Bernard Shaw
although there's some debate about that too
One of our customers in the United Kingdom recently pointed out that our use of the word "checkbook" in our MoneyLine personal finance software was incorrect and that it should be "chequebook" instead.
Here in the US the British spelling with a "q" "u" and an extra "e" looks pretty strange. But, then, I guess to folks in Great Britain the "c" and "k" in our version looks equally strange.
To top it off, our CEO is from Australia, and many of our software developers are based there too. So we have the conflicting Australian English to deal with as well. It can all get pretty confusing. Sometimes we need a translator just so we can all speak the same language. And we all speak English!
We Americans tend to think our version is the "correct" one, but what do you think? Do we have it right when we say "checkbook" in MoneyLine? Do you use "checkbook" or "chequebook?"
Both versions of the spelling are accepted as correct in Canada. I, personally, tend to use 'chequebook' because it has more flavor to it.
ReplyDeleteAs an Englishman I always use the word Chequebook.And I get fed with spell checkers trying to correct English spelling of our own language. it has even happened as I have typed this. It does seem odd that an Englishman has to defend the spelling of the English language.
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